Cheek's goal-scoring run goes on with win for Braintree at Boreham Wood

Vanarama National League

Michael Cheek’s rich vein of form continued as he scored for a fourth consecutive Vanarama National League game to break Boreham Wood’s hold over Braintree Town.

The game had been postponed three weeks previously due to a frosty pitch, but there were no problems on this occasion and the Iron took full advantage with a fully-merited victory.

They bossed the play throughout and Cheek found the target after Boreham had been reduced to ten men after the break to deliver three points that lifted them out of the relegation zone in time for Christmas.

Boreham Wood had proved a bogey side for the Iron last year, having beaten the Essex side both home and away.

They continued that into this season as well as they won 2-1 at Braintree in October and they included former Braintree favourites Matt Paine and Kenny Davis in their line-up.

Braintree, meanwhile, made three changes to the side that had started the game at Gateshead on Saturday – one at the back and two in midfield.

Norwich loanee Ebou Adams made his first Braintree start in the middle and Reece Hall-Johnson also came in as Monty Patterson and Harry Lee both dropped to the bench.

Meanwhile, Zak Jules came out of the defence and that saw a return for Ian Gayle to the starting 11.

The game began with Braintree in possession and home keeper Grant Smith had to be alert in the opening seconds when a shot stung his hands.

It was an encouraging opening from the Iron, who saw the lion’s share of the ball and did all the attacking in the first part of the game.

Hall-Johnson’s corner caused a moment of worry for Boreham as it was accurately delivered under Smith’s bar and the hosts were glad to eventually make the clearance.

Braintree stayed in control of the play as Boreham struggled to have much of an impact, but the visitors were unable to find the breakthrough that their early play may have merited.

The home side often looked sloppy as they found it tough to get hold of the ball and they were thankful to their keeper for maintaining parity just after the half-hour mark.

Smith saved well from a great effort from Simeon Akionla when he curled a free-kick towards the top corner but the home keeper was up to the task as he just about clawed the ball away.

From the resulting corner, Adams followed up with a decent shot but it was blocked away as Boreham Wood held on.

The Iron went close again when another free-kick caused problems just before the break when the ball was rolled to Hall-Johnson and his low drilled effort rippled the side netting of the goal.

It meant the game stayed deadlocked and goalless at the break and Braintree would have been frustrated to have not turned their dominance into goals in the opening period.

It was a slower start to the second half, but a free-kick just outside the penalty area by David Stephens on Hall-Johnson gave the visitors another sight of the Wood goal.

It was a chance that wasn’t taken as the shot cannoned off the wall, but Smith was grateful that Michael Cheek didn’t make better contact from a shot from the resulting corner and he made the save.

The free-kick had earned Stephens a yellow card and that proved important soon after when Adams drew the Boreham defender into another rash challenge soon after and he was sent off for a second caution.

With Braintree now facing ten men they knew they had to stretch the play to take advantage of their superior numbers.

And they did exactly that in the 62nd minute when a ball into the box brought pressure for the hosts and Cheek eventually poked the ball in to give Braintree a deserved lead.

It was a sixth goal from the last six league games for the Iron striker.

Boreham knew they had to come at the Iron to salvage anything from the game and they began to press the visitors a bit more as the pace in their side remained a threat.

Having surrendered a one-goal lead at Gateshead on Saturday to be held to a draw, Braintree were wary and did what they could to take any sting out of the hosts’ game.

With four minutes added on at the end of the game, there were some nervy late moments for the Iron.

That included a wonderful save by Beasant in the dying seconds from a home corner, but the Iron held on for three vital points on the road.

Braintree Town: Sam Beasant, Ian Gayle, Sean Clohessy, Chez Isaac, Jerome Okimo, Manny Parry, Ebou Adams, Reece Hall-Johnson, Jack Midson, Simeon Akinola, Michael Cheek.

Subs not used: Harry Lee, Lee Barnard, Sam Corne, Monty Patterson, Danny Rummens.

Referee: David Rock.